Tampa Car Rental

[guntheros]

We will rent a car pre and post cruise from Tampa area.  I'm trying to decide which rental locations to use though.  I'd love to hear if you have personal experience, good or bad.  

 

Pre cruise, we can return the car to the rental agency on Kennedy Blvd, only a couple miles from port and it looks like they have a cruise port shuttle.  Or I can return it to the Embassy suites just a mile from cruise port.  So... I could drop the family off at the cruise port, then go return the car to the Embassy suites and either walk to the port or catch a lyft/uber.  Only bad thing is that the few online reviews of this rental agency are TERRIBLE!  They say it's very SLOW and disorganized. Or, we could all drop car off at Kennedy Blvd and take their shuttle to the port (I assume they can accommodate 6 people and all of our luggage) Not many reviews, but all look OK.

 

Post cruise: We can pick up a car at Embassy Suites (again.. just a little worried about the negative reviews) that is only 1 mile from the port.  Or, I go get a car at Gandy Blvd (again, very bad reviews on google about not having the car they booked, etc) or all the way to the airport.  Sounds like airport rental agencies are much more efficient, but we'd all have to pay to get over to the airport, which we're willing to do if it's going to help us avoid waiting to get a car for hours.  Would love to use the Kennedy blvd agency, but their rates are crazy high for picking up there.

 

Would love to hear about your experience or thoughts!

Nicole

 

 

[o-state girl]

 

We used Enterprise about a year and a half ago.  Picked up at the airport, dropped off at Kennedy Blvd.  We were quickly shuttled to the cruise terminal.  Overall, very easy and convenient.  Cannot help with the post-cruise experience.  We just got off the ship, went to the aquarium for a few hours (they stored our luggage), and then took an Uber to the airport.

Edited January 5, 2020 by o-state girl

[guntheros]

30 minutes ago, o-state girl said:

 

We used Enterprise about a year and a half ago.  Picked up at the airport, dropped off at Kennedy Blvd.  We were quickly shuttled to the cruise terminal.  Overall, very easy and convenient.  Cannot help with the post-cruise experience.  We just got off the ship, went to the aquarium for a few hours (they stored our luggage), and then took an Uber to the airport.

Did they use shuttle vans? Something that would accommodate 6 of us with all of our luggage?

Thanks

[o-state girl]

Yes.  It was a van and should accommodate 6, but it may be easier if you drop everyone off with the luggage and then return the rental car and shuttle back by yourself.  I think it is only about a 10 minute drive from the port to the Kennedy Blvd. location and this would allow you to avoid handling the baggage twice.  Just my opinion.